Peterson puts own spin on Otis Redding’s classic

WTOL-11 news anchor Chrys Peterson has loved Otis Redding’s introspective summer tune “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” since her youth — making it the perfect choice for her “Red, White & You” track.

“I was thinking of summer songs and for some reason, that one just came to me,” Peterson said, adding that Redding’s song was on one of the first 45s she owned.

Chrys Peterson in the recording studio.

“I used to play that song all the time on my record player,” she recalled.

With the help of local musicians Jeff Stewart and Chuck Mauk, Peterson was able to put her own spin on the classic song.

“Nobody’s going to do it better than Otis Redding, so you just have to think, ‘How can I do it differently and make it fun?’” she said.

The fact that the album benefits the American Red Cross of Northwest is also important to Peterson, who sits on the board of the organization.

“It’s certainly something that’s near and dear to my heart,” she said. “Especially in my business, doing what I do every night and reporting on stories where we see people sometimes at their worst in times of disaster or fire, the Red Cross is always there with a helping hand.”

The Emmy winner also said she appreciates that the CD showcases local talent.

“We don’t even need ‘American Idol’ or ‘The Voice’ or any of those shows. We can just have our own show right here in Toledo,” she said with a chuckle.

She added, “Red, White & You will give people an opportunity to hear the local singers and bands and make plans to go out and see them play.”

Peterson sang in choirs in junior high and high school before joining a rock group in college. Since then, however, she hasn’t performed much aside from appearing on Toledo Free Press holiday CDs, benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The anchor said of appearing on the Make-A-Wish and American Red Cross benefit CDs, “It’s a lot of fun. It’s just something that you feel great about doing.”

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on Friday, June 21st, 2013 at 1:12 pm and is filed under Charity, Music, Red Cross.
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